Mega-publisher Activision filed its counter-suit against two former top Modern Warfare game developers today, claiming that the pair purposely delayed Modern Warfare 3 and had designs to "steal the [Infinity Ward] studio." What does the other side have to say?
The attorney representing Infinity Ward founders Jason West and Vince Zampella call Activision's allegations "false and outrageous."
"Just one example is Activision's allegation that Jason and Vince conspired to spin off Infinity Ward," West and Zampella's lawyer said today in a statement to Kotaku. "Activision itself proposed spinning off Infinity Ward when, last year, it sought to renegotiate Jason and Vince's contract and induce them to forego developing a new game in favor of doing another Modern Warfare sequel. "
"Jason and Vince had hired the Creative Artists Agency to advise them in their negotiations with Activision, not to breach their contract," said Robert M. Schwartz, the attorney representing West and Zampella. "The conversations with IW employees, talent agents, and others during these negotiations with Activision were not conducted to see if Activision's proposal could work, and not in disrespect of their obligations to Activision."
Schwartz continues.
"Activision's inaccurate and misguided allegations lose sight of the reality here: None of the false claims of insubordination or breach of duties had any negative affect on Activision — none. Modern Warfare 2 has been the world's most successful video game. And none of this changes the fact that Jason and Vince would still be at Infinity Ward developing new games except that Activision kicked them out. This is just an Activision tactic to avoid paying Jason and Vince and everyone else at Infinity Ward the millions of dollars they all earned and that Activision owes them."
"Since being fired by Activision, Jason and Vince have taken steps to regain control over their creative future and plan to have an announcement very soon."
Activision claims that the two Infinity Ward heads had begun negotiations with the publisher's biggest competitor—which the suit doesn't name, but is likely Battlefield and Medal of Honor publisher Electronic Arts.